Four of the acclamations are based on passages from the letter to the Ephesians, a favorite for baptismal and credal theology.

4. There is one God, one Father of all; he is over all, and through all; he lives in all of us.

I have to say that poetically, this acclamation from Ephesians 4:6 is flat. But as an early Creed, it piques the imagination as to how the early Church in Ephesus remained open to Christ and the Holy Spirit to solidify the early expressions of Christianity.

6. Blessed be God who chose you in Christ.

This excerpt (1:3-4) from the baptismal canticle opening the letter may be one of these acclamations most set to music over the past few decades. It’s a good text for both the rites of sending and election. It’s probably most used as an acclamation for the rite of Baptism.

The next one from 2:10):

7. You are God’s work of art, created in Christ Jesus.

… probably the same uses.

12. Imitate God; walk in his love, just as Christ loves us.

The brevity of these acclamations and the crispness of the syllables make it difficult to set these texts well. All have good and worthy sentiments to accompany the journey of initiation. This last text from 5:1-2 has no settings in the published realm of which I’m aware.

Possibly the most widespread baptismal acclamation is Howard Hughes’ setting of “You have put on Christ; in him you have been baptized.” That acclamation works well because of the insertion of an alleluia after each phrase. This last acclamation is a good text, and probably would be even better suited for the commencement of the catechumenate stage if it were expanded, “Imitate God; walk in his love, alleluia, just as Christ loves us, alleluia.”

Or perhaps not. Any readers out there with experience setting these texts? Charles? Tony? Anyone?

about Todd Flowerday

A Roman Catholic lay person, married (since 1996), with one adopted child (since 2001). I serve in worship and spiritual life in a midwestern university parish.

about John Donaghy

John is a lay missionary since 2007 with a parish in western Honduras. Before that he served in campus ministry and social justice ministry in Iowa. His ministry blog is http://hermanojuancito.blogspot.com

He also blogs reflections on the lectionary and saints/heroes/events of the date at http://walktheway.wordpress.com

He'll be a long-term contributor here analyzing the Latin American bishops' document from their 2007 Aparecida Conference.